RETURNING Warrior Nigel Redman has revealed Worcester are one of the few clubs who could have lured him away from his role at the RFU.

The 47-year-old this week agreed to replace new Cardiff Blues director of rugby Phil Davies as Richard Hill’s forwards coach.

He will end his tenure as the union’s elite coach development manager on June 30 and assume control of a Blue and Gold pack that under-performed at times last season.

The move represents a return to Sixways for the former England and British Lions second row after he spent a couple of years setting up their academy. He left in 2004, having established the system through which current Warriors James Percival and Matt Mullan progressed.

And now he is back to turn the fruits of his earlier labours into Premiership performances. However, he admits he was shocked when former team-mate Hill first suggested the idea.

“I was really surprised when Richard called, it was completely out of the blue,” Redman said. “I always get on with doing what I am doing and I enjoy my role at the RFU. It has been brilliant.

“But when Richard called me and asked how I would feel about coming to Worcester there was an immediate connection and although it was tough, it didn’t take me long to decide.

“I drive past the stadium sometimes and you can see the development, the building work and everything that’s going on, it’s exciting to be a part of that.

“Would I have joined any other club? No.

“It is part of my career that needs to be filled. I have coached in many areas, on the field with players and off it with coach education and this is something I am really looking forward to. Worcester is a progressive club that has been hovering and building their facilities and their reputation for some time.

“I have an emotional attachment to the club. A lot of guys who were there when I was are still around, James Percival, Matt Mullan, Chris Pennell, in fact the whole club has good people on the playing, coaching and management side.”

Redman held several posts at the RFU, including National Academy Coach and England Under 20 head coach.

And through the organisation’s connection with UK Sport he also delivered coach education programmes to Olympic disciplines like cycling, rowing, athletics, judo and volleyball.

As a result he has worked with some of the most recognisable names in British sport, experience he is now looking to bring to Worcester.

And he is confident of establishing a good working relationship with Hill having played with him for many years during Bath’s glory days in the 80s and 90s.

Both still live in the city and have stayed in contact. “As a player Richard stood out because of his work rate. There were other equally talented players out there but what he did was work harder than anyone else.

“And for many years I have used him as an example to other young scrum halves for their position, because of that phenomenal work rate and work ethic and methodical approach.”

Although the Warriors job will be his first in the Aviva Premiership, Redman will be surrounded by experience.

No-one more so than former World Cup winning coach Phil Larder who has turned their defence into one of the best in the division.

One issue Larder raised at the end of the campaign, though, is the failure of any of Worcester’s front or second row players to register among his top defenders.

It is a shortcoming Redman is happy to address. “Phil is an experienced coach and I think that is a challenge to those players.

“If Phil Larder believes dominant hits are important for the team’s success then you can only respect that and for that is a massive challenge to those players to respond.

“It is a great opportunity for any front five forward to get up at the top of that list.”

And he is confident the Sixways forwards can re-establish the fearsome reputation they had when he was last at the club.

Ex-DOR John Brain was the mastermind then as Warriors reached the top flight and stayed there on the back of a pulverising scrum and metronomic lineout.

“There is huge potential there, I have worked with lads like Matt Mullan, James Percival, Matt Kvesic, Jake Abbott and the one thing they have all got is they are Worcester lads, from the area and they are good people.

“I have had a positive relationship with all of them and I am really looking to working with them again.

“I like mobility, people who know about the game, love the game and people who are physical and want to impose that physicality on opponents.

“But it’s important that those people can play, get through defenders, get behind them and play when they’ve done that.

“Matt Mullan is a wonderful rugby player and guys like him will be an important part of what we are trying to do.”